Heel support for backless slippers



' Y March 11, 1942. `M. VARDY 2,276,894

HEEL SUPPORT FOR BACKLESS SLIPPERS Filed May. a, 1940 Patented Mar. 17, 17942 Uli-MTE .STATES FAT ENT Iv(liilil CE HEEL SUPPGRT FOB. BACKLESS SLIPPERS Michael Vardy, New York, N. Y. .Application May S, 1.940, Serial No. 333,923

(Cl. Bti-58.5)

2 Claims.

-This invention relates to new `and useful improvements .in .a heel support for backless slippers.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a heel support for backless slippers characterized by a low counter portion mounted along the heel portion of a slipper proper for engaging about the very bottom portion of the heel of ones foot to conceal the lower portion of the seam of ones stocking and to provide a better support for the foot.

Still further it isproposed to provide the low counter portion with a crescent shaped lining of resilient material adapted to frictionally engage the bottom of the heel of ones foot to more securely hold the slipper in position thereon.

Still further it is proposed to characterize the crescent shaped lining by a piece of elastic material having its top edge securely attached to the counter portion and its bottom edge projected towards the inside of the slipper in a manner to engage the said heel as hereinbefore outlined.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a means for holding the front ends of the crescent shaped lining in various forward projected positions for increasing the grip of the lining on the foot.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference Will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is an elevational View of a backless slipper constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another heel portion constructed in accordance with this invention.

The heel support for backless slippers, according to this invention, is adapted to be applied to a backless slipper I0 This backless slipper I0 has a sole portion Ia, and a heel portion Ib. A vamp Iiic is mounted upon the forward portion of the sole I and is adapted to receive and encase the front portion of the foot. A strap I'Ilc1 is provided for encircling the ankle and is provided Cil with a pair of downwardly extending -oppositely disposed strips Ille which are attached to the sole portion` IIEa in the vicinity of the shank area. This strap Sd is formed with an open side closed by means of a buckle II for permitting the same to be conveniently engaged about ones ankle.

The heel support comprises a low counter portion I2 mounted upon the rrear portion of the slipper proper and adapted to engage the bottom of the heel of ones foot. This .counter -portion I2 `is preferably constructed Aof leather and is .provided for concealing the lower end of the seam of the stocking and for holding the rear portion of the foot in an aligned position with the sole Illa thereof.

The low counter portion is provided with an internal means for frictionally gripping the lower portion of ones heel for preventing said heel from sliding in and out of the counter portion. This means comprises a crescent shaped lining I3 mounted on the inside of the counter portion I2. This crescent shaped lining I3 is preferably formed of elastic or rubber material and has its top edge stretched and securely attached to the top edge of the counter portion I2 by means of a. line of stitches I4. 'I'his stretching of the top edge of the crescent shaped lining I3 causes the bottom edge thereof to be spaced from the adjacent face of the counter portion, as shown in Fig. 3, for causing the same to tightly engage about and grip ones heel when engaged in position within the counter portion I2.

According to the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 4 the construction of the heel support for a backless slipper is similar to that previously described except that the crescent shaped lining I3' has only the intermediate portion of its top edge stretched and securely attached to the adjacent face of the counter portion I2 by means of a short line of stitches I4. The ends of the crescent shaped lining I3' are free of the counter portion I2, and means is provided for releasably attaching the front ends of the lining I3' in various forward positions With relation to the counter portion for increasing the grip of the lining on the lower portion of the heel of ones foot.

This latter means comprises a snap fastener element I5 mounted upon each of the ends of the lining I3 and which are adapted to be selectively engaged with one of a plurality of complementary snap fastener elements I6 mounted on the inside face of the front ends of the counter portion I2. It is preferred that the snap fastener elements I6 be the female parts thereof for forming a fiat interior which is adapted to engage against the heel of ones foot when these snap fastener elements i6 are exposed.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and like parts may be identified by like reference numerals.

In Fig. 5 the counter portion I2 is shown to be separated from the slipper. In this form of the invention, apertures Il are shown through which nails or the like may be driven into the sole portion Illa, to keep the counter portion l2 on the slipper. The counter portion l2 and I2' may be made of any material suitable for the purpose of supporting the heel of the foot, as previously described. K It is to be understood that the heel support may be ornamented or shaped as desired and it may be equipped on any slipper or shoe, Worn by women, children or men.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United y stretched, said stretched central top edge portion being attached to the top edge of said counter portion leaving the ends and bottom edge of said lining free to engage frictionally about the base of the back of ones heel to hold the heel of said slipper in position thereon, and means for holding the bottom edge of said lining in various forward projected positions to increase the frictional engagement of said bottom edge against the base of the back of ones heel.

2. In a backless slipper having a very loW counter portion for engaging about the base of ones heel, a crescent shaped lining of elastic material having the central portion of its top edge stretched, said stretched central top edgev portion being attached to the top edge of said counter portion leaving the ends and bottom edge of said lining free to engage frictionally about the base of the back of ones heel to hold the heel of said slipper in position thereon, and means for holding the bottom edge of said lining in various forward projected positions to increase the frictional engagement of said bottom edge against the base of the back of ones heel, comprising fastening elements mounted on the ends of said lining adjacent the bottom edge thereof and selectively engageable with one of a plurality of complementary fastening elements mounted on the inside face of said counter portion adjacent the ends of said lining.

MICHAEL VARDY. 

